1st Advantage MortgageThe median Steuben County household earns $65,887, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's New York license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Steuben County
- Household income in Steuben County
- Renting and owning in Steuben County
- The Steuben County job picture
- Towns and communities in Steuben County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Steuben County's medians
- Steuben County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Steuben County borrowers
- Four steps for Steuben County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Steuben County residents
- More guides for Steuben County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Steuben County
With an estimated 92,588 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Steuben County ranks 30th of 62 in New York for population. Land area is 1,391 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 67 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 19 places in the county (15 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Corning, with about 10,643 residents, or 11% of the county.
Household income in Steuben County
At $65,887, the typical Steuben County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 50 New York counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Steuben County | Difference from New York |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +8.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -10.6 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.8%, the same as the state's 14.0%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Steuben County
A typical Steuben County rental runs $894 a month including utilities, which is 45% below New York. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $137,900, a typical Steuben County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 73%. Median construction year: 1963.
| Measure | Steuben County | New York | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $894/mo | $1,621/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $137,900 | $423,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 54% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 33% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.8% | 2.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Steuben County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The Steuben County job picture
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with New York, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Steuben County averages 6.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.4%). Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Steuben County share | +/- vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.9% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.7% | +11.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -5.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Steuben County
The table lists the 14 largest of 19 Census places in Steuben County, by population. Together all 19 hold about 44,887 people, so roughly 52% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $108,194 at the median in Gang Mills, $45,313 in Campbell. This guide covers each of the 19 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corning | city | 10,643 | $61,760 | $1,014 | 19 mi |
| Hornell | city | 8,152 | $47,385 | $784 | 15 mi |
| Bath | village | 5,560 | $47,150 | $735 | 6 mi |
| Gang Mills | CDP | 4,177 | $108,194 | $1,474 | 15 mi |
| Canisteo | village | 2,085 | $53,558 | $795 | 11 mi |
| Wayland | village | 2,007 | $74,688 | $808 | 23 mi |
| Painted Post | village | 1,824 | $62,891 | $839 | 17 mi |
| Addison | village | 1,688 | $55,921 | $716 | 14 mi |
| South Corning | village | 1,132 | $58,750 | $1,310 | 20 mi |
| North Hornell | village | 1,043 | $78,750 | $684 | 15 mi |
| Avoca | village | 1,023 | $66,389 | $816 | 10 mi |
| Cohocton | village | 946 | $66,250 | $693 | 17 mi |
| Arkport | village | 897 | $74,250 | $927 | 18 mi |
| Campbell | CDP | 800 | $45,313 | $866 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Steuben County's, from 25 to 38 miles away. Livingston County leads the group on income ($74,001), Allegany County trails ($62,869), and Steuben County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Pennsylvania, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steuben County | - | $65,887 | $894/mo | 73% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 25 mi | $67,663 | $899/mo | 79% |
| Yates County, NY | 29 mi | $69,701 | $834/mo | 77% |
| Allegany County, NY | 33 mi | $62,869 | $763/mo | 79% |
| Chemung County, NY | 33 mi | $63,716 | $1,059/mo | 68% |
| Tioga County, PA | 35 mi | $64,899 | $863/mo | 77% |
| Livingston County, NY | 38 mi | $74,001 | $931/mo | 76% |
Debt-to-income at Steuben County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Steuben County's medians:
- $5,491 a month: gross income for a household at the Steuben County median
- Rent at the median, $894, takes 16% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,467 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $894, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steuben County households compared
26% of Steuben County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Steuben County | All of New York | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 39.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.3% | 40.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 12.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 5.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.1% | 29.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 14.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 14.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Steuben County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
What the numbers mean for Steuben County borrowers
Based on the Steuben County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Steuben County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Four steps for Steuben County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Steuben County:
- Price the Steuben County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Who licenses lenders for Steuben County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Steuben County, check the New York State Department of Financial Services. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the New York state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Steuben County
The New York guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Steuben County a high-income county?
Its $65,887 median ranks 51st of 62 New York counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Steuben County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $894 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Steuben County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Steuben County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Steuben County?
By population: Corning, Hornell, Bath, Gang Mills, Canisteo. The county has 19 Census places in all.
Does living in Steuben County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Steuben County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.